In the early days of the internet, discussion forums and the like were populated by anonymous trolls who took great pride in shoving their intellect (or distinct lack thereof) down other people’s throats – secure in the tenuous knowledge that their true identities would NOT be easily found out. I admit – it was quite a lot of fun engaging with these creatures of the night as they snuck in and posted inflammatory / racist / derogatory comments and then slipped away to admire their flabby, pasty, hairy, stinky man boobs in a handheld mirror …….
But I digress.
These days it is very difficult to find a space in which to have a good old criminal rant without someone finding out just who you are – Google, for one, tracks your every move, hungry to make a few measly cents out of your online habits – yes they make money out of you surfing those dodge sites as well!
A little closer to home though is the Help save Richmond Hill web site – https://sites.google.com/site/helpsaverichmondhill/ – built by an old school troll using the user name Charles DuGaul. It would appear that the ‘Little Frenchman from Gaul’ is not too happy with the Richmond Hill Special Rates Area and has taken this opportunity to vent.
The opening paragraph on the Help Save Richmond Hill site reads: “Proudly endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) and Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), the Richmond Hill Special Rates Area is proud to be the first baddie free part of the new South Africa. Our new committee, elected by only 25 old white residents, ensures that at least in this small part of South Africa, White Minority rule is still able to exist. Which just goes to show how special this area is.”
Alan Straton
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Wow! Looking for trouble or what? Only question is, where are the other residents of Richmond Hill who are not white, are they also being protected or are they ignored in times of trouble. Just a passing reflection as a resident of this diverse country.
everyone and all all inclusive Adele.someone is clearly not taking his meds!!!!!! pity they have to hide under the radar and remain anonymous.they clearly have missed the boat and the point.
So glad to see the Richmond Hill Residents replying to this article so that the true picture emerges. There will always be those who will try to gain attention for the wrong reasons by implying wrong doing by others, sometimes this is the only way they can get attention.
The naysayers just need to be pointed to this article: http://mype.co.za/new/establishment-of-richmond-hill-sra/35805/2014/04
Thank you Alan. Here is a “ballot paper” compliments of the kind people at MBDA. One of the “Naysayers'” biggest gripes is that the ballot paper did not provide for a “No” vote (see attached). Mr Bangazi in his reply as per your link mentions provision for “Yes” and “No” votes on this document – obviously not true, putting his entire answer under suspicion.
jan you seem to have so so much time putting your energy into negativity.surely any twit would realize that if you say no then you do not return a form!!!! they only collect yes votes and have a majority.just like the ruling party.must the anc send their no votes now!!! stop nit picking and move to Zwide if you must
How “Old School is this”?!! – like in the early days of the internet …..
Jan, will you be gracious enough to reveal to us your surname? What about a profile picture? Or is your real name Janet? You do whinge as though you are a 8 year old school girl who’s lost the fight in the playground. You argue like one too. Excuse my excessive use of sarcasm, but I find individuals such as yourself very difficult to take seriously. Put your money where your mouth is.
Jan??? Are you serious???? Surely any person with more than 2 brain cells understand one simple fact YES complete the form NO … DON’T!! Eish man!!!
What a load of rubbish…You make a lot of unfounded comments here – where are the facts to substantiate this? The Richmond Hill area has been cleaned up, thanks to this team of property owners who have decided to form this successful neighborhood watch organization to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of the residents. Your scathing attack on “Alex” and “others” portraying them as “racists” is absurd to say the least and is very far from the truth. Why criticize people who are doing something good? it is easy to sit back, be critical and shout your mouth off but then you need proof and facts, which you have none. Why don’t you get involved and do something positive for Richmond Hill? Your winging article smacks of sour grapes.
A few rather interesting observations here:
MYPE using the term “Old school” which according to the
Urban Dictionary means “Anything that is from an earlier era and looked upon
with high regard or respect.” Don’t know if the heading was intended!
The webmaster of the Help Save Richmond Hill site is
obviously rather unhappy about the Richmond Hill SRA and how the residents were
bamboozled into a situation where they are in effect paying to be caretakers
for the non-resident landlords.
In addition, the municipality by proxy of the MBDA had the
rates of the area increased without any obligation to improve services. In
fact, since inception, services have deteriorated whilst the municipality, MBDA
and SRA are playing musical chairs with the complaints from residents.
Of course the “Yeh-Sayers” will object to such portraying of
their “accomplishment”. Although the cynicism and satire of the author may
offend, all the facts therein can be objectively verified and confirmed.
For more on the establishment process of the SRA in Richmond Hill read this article: http://mype.co.za/new/establishment-of-richmond-hill-sra/35805/2014/04
Old School refers to the old days of the internet when people did NOT reveal their identities and operated in conditions of anonymity.
Jan, you defend the webpage to the point where one must question whether or not you were party to it’s creation.
An emailed comment form an Anon-E-Mouse: Hi Alan, the article on Richmond hill sra and the troll who put together the save Richmond hill page refers…. I have a very good idea of who this troll is, having thoroughly lost his credibility amongst the community, and still refusing to accept the vote of the majority to go for the sra, he is having a little tantrum here. These are his usual tactics, he loves creating drama and conflict, writing to newspapers and generally getting in the limelight, even if he has to be a troll and hide behind a pseudonym to do so. The generally accepted method advocated for dealing with trolls is to not give them the spotlight and attention they crave, so I am not responding to the actual article. But to sink to making this a racist white supremacist issue is lower than even this individual usually sinks, what a self serving cynical abuse of fragile community feelings to get his own way, SIES!!
Another emailed comment – What utter trash!! And so completely and horribly unfair to our dedicated team! This is the type of person who sits back and does NOTHING but complain and when an emergency arises, is the first one to make a call to said Team! I agree, however, with Karl, that this might have a backlash. On the other hand, does anyone even read MyPE anymore? I only ever go there if someone sends a link, or it comes up in a Google search.
What should have developed into a vigorous debate has now turned into the normal mudslinging from the usual RHRA suspects.
Therefore:
Mr TheKing: Whatever tickles your fancy.
Anti-bullies: Everyone who matters in this debate knows me in person, has my address, even my phone number – unlike “anonymous trolls who took great pride in shoving their intellect (or
distinct lack thereof) down other people’s throats”.
Amanda and Adele: Thank you for having the balls other commentators seem to lack by displaying your real names and also for your efforts to engage in a healthy debate – obviously a futile exercise in this part of the world.
I’m leaving this discussion with the words of Albert Einstein (a German-born theoretical physicist and philosopher of science – for those who don’t know or don’t care to know)
“I fear the day technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”
I agree with Albert Einstein’s quote Janet. The “Help Save Richmond Hill” website and it’s creator is a perfect example of this. Have a wonderful day further. 😉
Read another viewpoint from Bruce here: http://mype.co.za/new/the-richmond-hill-sra-and-that-web-site/40087/2014/09
Don’t you just love the reference to Alan Mounter and his ‘mistake’ ?? as if all the parties involved are gonna be infallible – the perfect beings! – The reference to Alan Mounter was unnecessary did not need to be made in order to get their point across.